Tens of thousands of Canadians have signed a petition urging for the expulsion of Pete Hoekstra, the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, as per an online petition that will be presented in the House of Commons. The petition, initiated by a Calgary resident, calls for Hoekstra to be declared persona non grata and removed from his diplomatic role due to statements deemed as detrimental to the Canada-U.S. relationship and inappropriate intervention in Canadian politics.
The petition, backed by nearly 60,000 signatures, accuses Hoekstra of undermining diplomatic ties between the two nations and engaging in interventions that breach diplomatic norms. It also demands that a parliamentary committee investigate U.S. interference in Canadian affairs. The document highlights Hoekstra’s controversial remarks suggesting Canada’s potential annexation by the United States as a topic for discussion between leaders.
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May is set to present the petition in Parliament, emphasizing that MPs can table petitions without endorsing the content. Criticisms against Hoekstra include his alleged normalization of the Trump administration’s threats to annex Canada. Hoekstra has faced backlash for his comments on the “anti-American” sentiment during Canada’s recent election and his defense of U.S. policies, including tariffs, while challenging Canadian politicians’ stance on American products.
The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa has offered no comment on the petition, acknowledging its awareness. The petition draws parallels to previous expulsions of diplomats from China and India over foreign interference allegations, emphasizing the potential consequences of a persona non grata declaration as outlined in the UN’s Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The Canadian government has taken similar actions in the past, notably expelling Chinese and Indian diplomats over espionage accusations.
